Food bank focuses on pets

Tuesday

Apr 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM

TUSCALOOSA | Shannon Walker is working to feed the hungry of Tuscaloosa, one wagging tail at a time. Walker, rescue coordinator for the Alabama Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, applied for a grant through Banfield Charitable Trust, the Portland, Ore.-based charitable arm of Banfield Pet Hospitals, in late 2012.

By Michelle Lepianka CarterStaff Writer

TUSCALOOSA | Shannon Walker is working to feed the hungry of Tuscaloosa, one wagging tail at a time.Walker, rescue coordinator for the Alabama Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, applied for a grant through Banfield Charitable Trust, the Portland, Ore.-based charitable arm of Banfield Pet Hospitals, in late 2012.She had her doubts that her application would be accepted, but much to her surprise, she was given a $2,000 grant from Banfield in January. She is using the money to expand a project she calls “Dixie’s Kitchen Pet Food Bank.”Walker said she had been collecting donated food for a pet food bank for a couple of years and dispersing pet food based on people’s needs when they contacted her.On Monday, she moved the donated items into office warehouse space she is renting near the intersection of Greensboro and 10th avenues in Tuscaloosa.The pet food bank is named after a hound mix named Dixie that Walker is fostering. Walker met Dixie in January 2011 when the dog was turned in by a breeder along with 38 others to the Bibb County Animal Control Rabies Impoundment. Walker was working at the shelter as a volunteer at the time and put Dixie on the shelter’s safe list.Walker lost her home in the April 27, 2011, tornado and was taking some time to rebuild her life when she got a call from the impoundment saying if she didn’t take Dixie, they’d have to euthanize her. Walker said she left work and immediately went to get her. The food bank is run through the Alabama SPCA that Walker founded, along with Thomas Sahm, in 2011. Walker said she plans to keep applying for grants to help with funding for the program. It accepts food for dogs and cats, as well as monetary donations.Walker said she hopes to have the office open to the public at least three days a week, maybe more depending on volunteer availability.There is a short application and screening process, a requirement of the grant, based on financial needs. Walker’s plan is to have pickup days for those pre-approved about once a month. She also hopes to be able to deliver pet food to the elderly and shut-ins who cannot come to the office to pick up the food. The program has also been working to help feed animals in rural shelter foster homes.“About 60 percent of intake at Metro Animal Shelter is from owner surrenders,” Walker said.She said when people get into financial trouble, one of the first things to go is the family pet. Her hope is for the pet food bank program to prevent more owner surrenders to shelters and to keep pets in their homes.